North Alabama Geodes EarthCache
Hidden : 5/29/2009
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works
Looking for a different adventure?

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:


Geodes are spherical or oblong rocks filled or partially filled with minerals. When a geode is broken, as in the example above, the minerals inside are revealed. Most geodes are completely filled with minerals, most often quartz. The quartz can be massive, crystalline, or layered, which is a variety called agate. But when most people think of geodes they think of spherical rocks that are hollow. Hollow geodes have an outer shell or rind of quartz, most often the variety chalcedony. The chalcedony often has a bumpy or lumpy appearance from the outside. But the bumpy appearance is no assurance that the inside of the spherical rock will be hollow. You ask, How are they formed? Well Geodes exhibit a wide range of sizes from inches in diameter to several feet. Most are less than a foot in width. Geodes also differ from concretions in that they are hollow and the crystals grow inward and from an outer shell. Concretions are solid and grow outward from a central core. Concretions are generally noncrystalline. Now, back to your question: how are geodes formed? We don't know but we have a theory for two types. Partly hollow balls filled mostly with quartz crystals or agate — commonly called geodes — have at least two entirely different origins, says geologist professor Gary A. Smith of the University of New Mexico. They form in: • lava (rhyolite) and • dolomite, a sedimentary rock resembling limestone. No matter what kind of rock, however, embeds the geodes originally, the rock must contain cavities for the geode's crystals to grow into, says geologist Jonathan H. Goodwin of the Illinois State Geological Survey. At this location you will find Geodes scattered all around the surface. To complete this EarthCache you will have to do the following. 1. Go to the posted coordinates and find a Geode. 2. Take a picture of yourself, your GPSr and the Geode and post them here along with your log. Requirements for logging the cache must be completed with in 10 days form logging the find or your log may be deleted.



Additional Hints (No hints available.)



Attributes

No attributes available

Advertising with Us

Inventory

There are no Trackables in this cache.

View past Trackables

What are Trackable Items?

Bookmark Lists

View all 4 bookmark lists...